Our review of racing around Australia on Saturday July 26, headlined by the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Star Performer
Sav On Ice (Morphettville R3)
The Darryl Carrison-trained colt blitzed his rivals to charge away an 8.5L winner, despite being caught wide and covering extra ground. The colt had the race at his mercy upon straightening, and has now strung a hat-trick of wins together. There’s no question he’s going on to bigger and better things and he’s now proven his class on a heavy track, to go along with wins on good and soft going. The win also nailed Rochelle Milnes the metro premiership, so a big result for all involved.
Morphettville Race 3 | Sav On Ice
Sav On Ice in a race of his own ???? The premiership leader, Rochelle Milnes, has enough time to smile for the photo as her mount wins outstandingly.
???? Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/zhdaGL6JnF
— Racing.com (@Racing) July 26, 2025 
Front Bar Fodder
CAULFIELD
Jimmy The Bear rolled after trading at $1.01 in the run
‘Jimmy’ traded at $1.01 in the straight but the Betfair players who chimed in at that price had their fingers badly burnt as Dictionary kicked back on the fence to deny the hot-pot. He appeared to have every chance, and jockey Ben Melham said as much, but an endoscopy found that Jimmy The Bear had bled internally. Whether we see him at 2400m again remains to be seen but the bleed could explain the soft-ish final 50m.
Filly Waltzes to Group 3 feature win
Moody and Coleman-trained filly Bridal Waltz backed up her double-figure win over She’s An Artist at Flemington with victory in the G3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at a dreary Caulfield. The scratching of race favourite Baraqiel threw the race wide-open but she attracted solid backing to jump at narrow favourite ahead of New York Lustre. Although Kin took ground off the winner late – jumping out of the ground over the final 50m as she’s done on many occasions, often to finish in the minor money – Bridal Waltz did the work up on the speed and deserved the win.
It made it a double for the stable after Ole Dancer took out the opening event.
RANDWICK
Glorious Moments producing one at Randwick
We’re in the depths of winter but we might have seen a handy one with Glorious Moments handing out a spanking in the fourth event. Settled a bit worse than midfield and when let loose, he unleashed with a turn of foot that might suggest he is stakes quality. Gave them a galloping lesson with the official margin being 4.15L.
Tarpaulin unable to hand James Cummings a fairytale finish
Tarpaulin was James Cummings’ last runner at Randwick before heading off to Hong Kong and he was unable to deliver him with a fairytale finish. Slow out before firing up to lead and due to that, he had no gas left to finish it off. Set it up for Cigar Flick to come from well off the speed and turn in a strong victory.
Collett boots home four timer
A masterclass from Jason Collett saw the Kiwi boot home four winners across the card, including the first and last race. Winning rides aboard Nashville Jack, Oh Diamond Lil, Regimental Colours and Travolta saw Collett take home jockey honours for Sydney’s last Saturday meeting of the season.
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER FOR JASON COLLETT ????????
He makes it a quartet to finish the day at Randwick on TRAVOLTA ????
Who was Stayin’ Alive in the Quaddie until then? pic.twitter.com/L3zmszYMNv
— 7HorseRacing ???? (@7horseracing) July 26, 2025
DOOMBEN
Wild divvies as R1 sees a boilover
The race was called the ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’ but it was a Bookies Picnic in the end as the first-four horses home were all at big odds.
Mister Bianco, or ‘Missed-da Run-again’?
This prep has seen a couple of odd hurdles in front of Mister Bianco – he was withdrawn from the G3 Winx Guineas when his jockey was injured on raceday, and there were no replacements connections were confident enough with. On Saturday, the last race was culled due to a lightning delay causing havoc midway through the arvo – of course, Mister Bianco was down to run in the last, with the race postponed to Wednesday.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Hype wins Mackay Cup
The 7YO import Hype is the Cups king of North Queensland, having bagged the Rockhampton/Mackay double last year, and while falling short of his Rocky defence, he was able to go back-to-back at Mackay in pretty dominant fashion under Ryan Wiggins (treble on the day). Last year, he had 56kg for the Mackay feature – this year he was the clear 60kg topweight and still only one rival (Sir Grace) got within 4L of him.
Jockey suspended for five weeks after four-horse incident
The fourth at Te Rapa on Saturday took a scary turn when Illuminated Miss ($20.70) fell, and brought three race rivals down as each of I Park ($17.40), Gina Rosa ($13.50) and Gracetheace ($22.60) all unseating their jockeys in the process. The jockeys involved emerged with some injuries: Ace Lawson-Carroll (broken pelvis, ribs, shoulder), Ashlee Strawbridge (sore ankle/neck), Hayley Hassman (leg), Rihaan Goyaram (sore back), while all the horses involved came through the incident without major concerns. Ribkraka ($2F) was later disqualified for causing interference, with apprentice jockey Yuga Okubo suspended for five weeks for careless riding.
Ribraka got within 0.1L of the winner Ortega ($16.90), and in some ways it was better than he hadn’t got the victory on the post – as the DQ might’ve made a bigger splash in the punters’ sphere. Regardless, stewards disqualified him from the 2nd-placing, to elevate Viva Glam ($12.40) into the runner-up slot (beaten 6.4L).
Punters Pearler
Rochelle Milnes at Morphettville, four winners, including Lightning Stakes
South Australian apprentice Rochelle Milnes nailed the Adelaide jockeys’ premiership with an incredible four-timer on Saturday, saluting aboard Sav On Ice, Big Sue, Silent Emmy and Cicala in the Listed Lightning Stakes. It was the fairytale ending to a remarkable 2024-25 metropolitan season for the 23-year-old hoop from Port Lincoln, who also won the Group 2 Adelaide Cup aboard Silent Surrente, and her hom
Saturday Slaughter
Jye McNeil on Sun Setting (Caulfield R6)
It was never going to be a walk in the park for McNeil from barrier 12 but this was an absolute wreck for Sun Setting’s backers and connections. As the day went on, it was certainly no disadvantage to be swinging wide around the Caulfield home turn but McNeil found himself hopelessly snookered between and behind runners when the whips were cracking. The Laurie-trained filly only saw daylight when the race was over and while you can’t jump over them, there is no doubt Sun Setting should have won this race. (‘enjoy’ the horror show below – Yulong silks)
Saints
Ole Dancer (Caulfield R1)
He’s an exciting stallion, Ole Kirk, and he looks to have another promising one here in Ole Dancer. The Moody and Coleman-trained filly made it 2 from 2 with a stylish victory under the state’s leading hoop Blake Shinn.
Pop Award (Caulfield R2)
Winning machine Pop Award made it four on the bounce with a strong first-up victory, aided by a lovely Matthew Cartwright steer. He slotted into the one-one in effortless fashion and the talented mare did the rest, knuckling down strongly to build on her impressive record.
Stylish Secret (Caulfield R4)
He knocked off our ‘best value’ Verona Rupes but you couldn’t begrudge Stylish Secret victory in the MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (2400m). The Nolan-trained galloper has been up since April, with today his 8th start for the prep. He’s had some bad barriers and copped some ordinary rides but Craig Williams had the magic touch here, guiding him to a powerful staying victory to break an unlucky losing streak.
El Rocko (Caulfield R7)
He’s been a terrific wet-tracker over the journey but has been hard to catch this preparation, with two distinct versions of El Rocko going around. The ‘good one’ turned up today, and thanks to an aggressive ride from Jett Stanley. he was able to run his BM100 rivals ragged over the Caulfield mile, saluting at double-figure odds.
Nashville Jack (Randwick R1)
Ran right up to what he produced at the trials. Sat just behind the speed and with plenty of room open on the inside, Jason Collett slipped through and Nashville Jack put a few lengths on them. Won’t be the last race this Brad Widdup-trained galloper wins.
Oh Diamond Lil (Randwick R3)
She’s going super and chalked up her third win for the preparation and another at the mile. Had a real battle on her hands with Aberlour giving a kick but she was able to fight off that galloper and there was a huge margin to third.
Lead Me On (Doomben R5)
Two wins in a week is good going in anyone’s language. This guy burst onto the scene as a 2YO winning a $500k race, but his trainer Chris Anderson gave him a good break after his 2YO season as he allowed the horse to mature. And that patience has paid off this prep, as he’s now strung together a couple in quick succession – Eagle Farm last week, and over the road seven days later.
The Irish (Doomben R6)
The Irish have been winning our staying races of late – whether its Joseph O’Brien or even Robbie Dolan in the big one on the first Tuesday. This 2200m affair was very Irish as the Irish-bred 5YO gelding The Irish saluted for Irish jockey Siobhan Rutledge, and dominated by the best part of four lengths. The runner-up? A 5YO called Bitoftheblarney. The Irish are infiltrating everything!
Super Duck (Doomben R7)
Once again, he ran well in the wet (fittingly) but to the chagrin of most punters (at big odds). His two wins of late have come at the SPs of $61 and $19.
Shoeless (Morphettville R1)
Pretty gutsy win after missing the kick and sticking to the task to grind down Brave Star in the final 100m. Has accumulated three wins and five minor placings in his last eight starts – super honest. Nice hit and run mission from Cranbourne trainer Shawn Mathrick.
Lingani (Morphettville R2)
Lingani spanked her rivals in an Open Handicap over 1050m as rain pelted down at Morphettville. The mare, who won last year’s Lightning Stakes, settled third under talented apprentice Taylor Johnstone, and was undeterred by the heavy track conditions as she powered home, reeling in race leader The Gov, and storming to a seven-length win. It was enjoyable viewing for Morphettville trainers Peter and Belinda Blanch, who have now set their sights in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes (1200m) for Lingani, which will be ran on August 9. With a 3: 3-0-0 record on heavy going, the Blanch’s will be hoping it buckets down in the lead-up to Behemoth day!
From The Block (Morphettville R4)
Never looked in danger on Saturday over 1200m, went to the front under Jake Toeroek and kicked away strongly at the 300m to run out a 2.5L winner. Has now put together three wins on the bounce for Richard and Chantelle Jolly since returning to race in Australia after a stint in Hong Kong.
Cicala (Morphettville R8)
The Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea=trained filly is now undefeated after three wins and proved she has plenty of class to hunt down Victorian border hopper Fieldello in the closing stages of Saturday’s Listed Lightning Stakes. She clearly doesn’t mind getting her toe in the ground as well, relishing Saturday’s Heavy (10) conditions, so it will be interesting to see what the team does with her next.
Lightning Stakes | Cicala
It’s a red letter day for Rochelle Milnes as she caps off her impeccable day, taking out the last feature race of the season aboard Cicala ⚡️????
???? Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/KyaboLLzEM
— Racing.com (@Racing) July 26, 2025 
Sinners
Savagery Vibe (Caulfield R6)
It was a case of #WrongRyanRunner here with Vain Champagne ($21) swooping home to score while the fancied stablemate Savagery Vibe ($3.80) just plugged away to finish midfield. No doubt there is ability there but SV is becoming a little costly for punters.
Keep Your Cool (Caulfield R9)
The favourite in the ‘get out’ went from travelling sweetly approaching the turn to completely gone soon after straightening. Perhaps there will be an explanation in the stewards’ report, because she dropped right out. In a blow to most punters, veteran galloper Windstorm turned back the clock with a barnstorming victory at huge odds. It was his first win since October 2020 – which amazingly came over the exact same route.
Nazwah (Randwick R1)
A well-supported favourite in the opener following a big debut win at Gosford but she couldn’t replicate that and was a bit disappointing after leading. Jockey Tom Sherry appeared to go quicker than he needed to though, so perhaps an excuse there.
In Summer (Randwick R3)
Held up slightly but Jason Collett got her into the clear and there was very little to offer. The record of favourites in Highway races over the last few months would have to be awful.
She’s Unusual (Randwick R6)
Not sure what went wrong here given she was so plain. Strong winner at the track and distance last time out but she was well below that and finished right at the tail of the field.
Starman (Randwick R7)
Just when you thought he was about to win a race, he didn’t.
Ramp It Up (Doomben R4)
Came home like a drunken sailor, and arguably cost himself the victory. He’s still a colt, although nearly a G3-winning colt after a big run in the Winx Guineas last start. So the ‘ultimate gear change’ still remains an option if the manners are needing some attention …
End Assembly (Doomben R5)
Once again, he was at the pointy end of the market ($4), and his winning drought continued (last win was December 2022). He went poorly too, failing to beat one home.
The Winners